U.S. patent application number 10/228185 was filed with the patent office on 2003-04-03 for card-shaped electronic apparatus.
Invention is credited to Sasaki, Yasutaka.
Application Number | 20030065837 10/228185 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19123886 |
Filed Date | 2003-04-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030065837 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sasaki, Yasutaka |
April 3, 2003 |
Card-shaped electronic apparatus
Abstract
A card-shaped electronic apparatus includes a base in the form
of a substantially rectangular plate having a natural bending
vibration mode, components mounted on the base, and covers attached
to the base and covering the components. The base has a pair of
side edge portions capable of being guided along a pair of guide
rails of a card slot. Protrusions for determining the position
where the base contacts the guide rails are located individually
near positions corresponding to nodes of the bending vibration mode
on each side edge portion, and project in the thickness direction
of the base.
Inventors: |
Sasaki, Yasutaka;
(Tachikawa-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PILLSBURY WINTHROP, LLP
P.O. BOX 10500
MCLEAN
VA
22102
US
|
Family ID: |
19123886 |
Appl. No.: |
10/228185 |
Filed: |
August 27, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
710/74 ;
G9B/33.024; G9B/33.03 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 33/124 20130101;
H05K 5/0265 20130101; G11B 33/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
710/74 |
International
Class: |
G06F 013/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 28, 2001 |
JP |
2001-303881 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A card-shaped electronic apparatus capable of being inserted
into a card slot having a pair of guide rails opposed substantially
in parallel to each other, comprising: a base in the form of a
substantially rectangular plate on which components are mounted and
having a natural bending vibration mode; and a cover attached to
the base and spreading over the components, the base having a pair
of side edge portions configured to be guided along the guide
rails, and a plurality of protrusions configured to determine the
positions where the base contacts the guide rails through or not
through the cover, the protrusions being located individually near
positions corresponding to nodes of the bending vibration mode on
each side edge portion and projecting in the thickness direction of
the base.
2. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
protrusions project individually from opposite surface sides of the
base near the positions corresponding to the nodes.
3. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover
spreads over the side edge portions of the base and has side edge
portions capable of being guided along the guide rails.
4. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
protrusions extends along one of the side edge portions of the base
and each protrusion has opposite end portions located near the
positions corresponding to the nodes.
5. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
components includes a disk, a drive motor for supporting and
rotating the disk, a head for recording information on and
reproducing it from the disk, and a head actuator supporting the
head.
6. A card-shaped electronic apparatus capable of being inserted
into a card slot having a pair of guide rails opposed substantially
in parallel to each other, comprising: a base in the form of a
substantially rectangular plate on which components are mounted and
having side edge portions and a natural bending vibration mode; and
a cover spreading over the base, the cover having a pair of side
edge portions in contact with the side edge portions of the base,
individually, and configured to be guided along the guide rails,
and a plurality of protrusions configured to determine the
positions where the base contacts the guide rails through the
cover, the protrusions being located individually near positions
corresponding to nodes of the bending vibration mode on each side
edge portion of the cover and projecting in the thickness direction
of the base.
7. An electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the
protrusions project individually from opposite surface sides of the
base in the positions corresponding to the nodes.
8. An electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the
protrusions extend along the side edge portions of the base and
each protrusion has opposite end portions located near the
positions corresponding to the nodes.
9. An electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the
component includes a disk, a drive motor for supporting and
rotating the disk, a head for recording in and reproducing
information from the disk, and a head actuator supporting the
head.
10. A card-shaped electronic apparatus capable of being loaded into
a card storage portion, comprising: a base in the form of a
substantially rectangular plate on which components are mounted and
having a natural bending vibration mode; and a cover attached to
the base and spreading over the component, the base having a side
edge portion configured to engage the card storage portion, and a
protrusion configured to determine the position where the base
contacts the card storage portion through or not through the cover,
the protrusion being located near a position corresponding to a
node of the bending vibration mode on the side edge portion and
projecting in the thickness direction of the base.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No.
2001-303881, filed Sep. 28, 2001, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a card-shaped electronic
apparatus capable of being inserted into a card slot.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Recording/reproducing devices, such as magnetic disk drives,
optical disk drives, flash memories, and the like are widely used
as external storage devices for computers nowadays. Recently,
moreover, computers which have PCMCIA-card slots have spread,
especially in notebook-type personal computers. Correspondingly,
external storage devices that can be inserted into the card slots
of the computers have been developed as removable storage
media.
[0006] On the other hand, miniaturization of hard disk drives
(hereinafter referred to as HDDs) has advanced increasingly.
Recently, 1- and 1.8-inch HDDs that are expected to be used as
removable HDDs have been developed. They are card-shaped HDDs that
can be inserted into PCMCIA-card slots.
[0007] The card-shaped external storage devices and electronic
apparatuses that can be used in the card slots are generally
subjected to shock event, so high shock and vibration resistance
are required. In general, however, these apparatuses are not so
strong against, and sometimes they are carried in a case that is
covered with a shock-absorbing member.
[0008] These card-shaped electronic apparatuses are fixed in a card
slot during operation, so that external shock to the card slot may
cause serious damage such as a loss of information. Accordingly,
improvement in the resistance against shock and vibration during
operation is very important.
[0009] When a card-shaped electronic apparatus is set in a card
slot, it is supported only by a connector portion, and there is no
other solid supporting portions. Its side edge portions are
supported in a substantially free state with a small gap with
respect to rails of the card slot. If any heavy shock or vibration
applies on the card slot, therefore, there is a high possibility
that the front or rear edge of the electronic apparatus collides
against the card slot rails.
[0010] If this collision occurs, the thin card-shaped structure
vibrates with a conventional bending vibration mode. Since
card-shaped electronic apparatuses that can be inserted into a card
slot, including HDDs, have substantially the same exterior design,
they have substantially the same bending mode shape although the
mode frequency is various.
[0011] Since this bending mode frequency is in a low frequency
range such as hundreds of hertz, it is the most critical vibration
mode that generates large amplitude if any vibration or shock
applies on the electronic apparatus. In order to improve the shock
and vibration resistance of the card-shaped electronic apparatus,
therefore, it is better to increase the natural frequency of the
vibration mode.
[0012] In general, however, a card-shaped electronic apparatus is
limited in thickness in order to meet the standard requirements of
the card slot, so it is difficult to increase the natural frequency
enough.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention has been contrived in consideration of
these circumstances, and its object is to provide a card-shaped
electronic apparatus with improved shock and vibration
resistance.
[0014] In order to achieve the above object, a card-shaped
electronic apparatus according to an aspect of the invention is an
electronic apparatus that can be inserted into a card slot having a
pair of guide rails opposed substantially parallel to each other.
This apparatus comprises: a base in the form of a substantially
rectangular plate on which components are mounted and having a
natural bending vibration mode; and a cover attached to the base
and spreading over the components, the base having a pair of side
edge portions configured to be guided along the guide rails, and a
plurality of protrusions configured to determine the positions
where the base contacts the guide rails through or not through the
cover, the protrusions being located individually near positions
corresponding to nodes of the bending vibration mode on each side
edge portion and projecting in the thickness direction of the
base.
[0015] A card-shaped electronic apparatus according to another
aspect of the invention is an electronic apparatus that can be
inserted into a card slot having a pair of guide rails opposed
substantially in parallel relation to each other. This apparatus
comprises: a base in the form of a substantially rectangular plate
on which components are mounted and having side edge portions and a
natural bending vibration mode; and a cover spreading over the
base, the cover having a pair of side edge portions in contact with
the side edge portions of the base, individually, and capable of
being guided along the guide rails, and a plurality of protrusions
configured to determine the positions where the base contacts the
guide rails through the cover, the protrusions being located
individually near positions corresponding to nodes of the bending
vibration mode on each side edge portion of the cover and
projecting in the thickness direction of the base.
[0016] A card-shaped electronic apparatus according to still
another aspect of the invention is an electronic apparatus that can
be is loaded into a card storage portion. This apparatus comprises
a base in the form of a substantially rectangular plate on which
components are mounted and having a natural bending vibration mode;
and a cover attached to the base and spreading over the components,
the base having a side edge portion capable of engaging the card
storage portion and a protrusion configured to determine the
position where the base contacts the guide rails, the protrusion
being located near a position corresponding to a node of the
bending vibration mode on the side edge portion and projecting in
the thickness direction of the base.
[0017] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be
realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and
combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention, and together with the general description given
above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below,
serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an HDD
according to a first embodiment of the invention and a card slot of
a personal computer;
[0020] FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are a plan view, a side view, and a
sectional view, respectively, of the HDD;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a diagram typically showing the simulated result
of a vibration mode of the HDD;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the HDD set in a
cardholder of the card slot;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG.
4;
[0024] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are a plan view, a side view, and a
sectional view, respectively, showing an HDD according to a second
embodiment of the invention;
[0025] FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are a plan view, a side view, and a
sectional view, respectively, showing an HDD according to a third
embodiment of the invention; and
[0026] FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are a plan view, a side view, and a
sectional view, respectively, showing an HDD according to a fourth
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] An embodiment of the present invention applied to an HDD
will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, an HDD 10 is in the form of a card that
complies with the PCMCIA type-II standard, for example. The HDD 10
is designed so that it can be inserted into and taken out of a
PCMCIA-card slot 20 that is formed in a personal computer, for
example.
[0029] The card slot 20 that serves as a card storage portion will
be described first. The card slot 20 is located in an apparatus
body 22 of the personal computer and has an inlet 24 that is formed
in a sidewall 22a of the apparatus body. The inlet 24 has an
elongate rectangular shape corresponding to the profile of the HDD
10 that serves as a card-shaped electronic apparatus.
[0030] The card slot 20 is provided with a cardholder 26 in the
shape of a rectangular tray and a connector 28, which are located
continuously with the inlet 24 in the apparatus body 22. The
cardholder 26 is formed by bending a metal plate, and its opposite
side edge portions constitute guide rails 30, individually. The
guide rails 30, having a U-shaped cross section each, are opposed
substantially in parallel to each other, and extend in a loading
direction A of the HDD 10 from the inlet 24. The paired guide rails
30 function as guide means for the HDD 10 to be inserted into or
taken out of the card slot 20 and serve to engage and hold the set
HDD.
[0031] Further, the card slot 20 has therein an eject lever 32,
which extends in the loading direction A beside the cardholder 26.
The rear end portion of the eject lever 32 engages the connector
28. An eject button 33 is attached to the distal end of the lever
32 and is situated side by side with the inlet 24.
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the HDD 10 comprises a base 12
in the form of a rectangular metal plate, and various components
(mentioned later) are mounted on the top side of the base. Further,
the HDD 10 comprises a plate-shaped top cover 14 that spreads over
the upper surface of the base 12, a printed circuit board (not
shown) on the bottom side of the base, and a bottom cover 15 that
conceals the printed circuit board and the bottom side of the base.
All these elements are stacked in layers to form a card as a whole.
A connector 16 is attached to the printed circuit board and located
on the front end of the HDD 10 with respect to its loading
direction.
[0033] The base 12 carries thereon a 1.8-inch magnetic disk 17 that
serves as an information recording medium, a spindle motor 18 as a
drive motor for supporting and rotating the magnetic disk, and a
plurality of magnetic heads 19 for writing information to and
reading it from the magnetic disk. The base 12 further carries
thereon a head actuator 21 that supports and moves the magnetic
heads with respect to the magnetic disk 17, a ramp loading
mechanism (not shown), an inertia latch mechanism, etc.
[0034] The respective opposite side edge portions of the top and
bottom covers 14 and 15 that cover a pair of long side edge
portions of the base 12 have a width and height such that they can
be guided individually along the guide rails 30 of the card slot
20, and constitute guide portions 40, individually. As the HDD 10
is inserted into or taken out of the card slot 20, the guide
portions 40 engage their corresponding guide rails 30 of the
cardholder 26, thereby guiding the HDD in movement and holding it
in the cardholder.
[0035] The base 12 has a plurality of protrusions 42 on each long
side edge portion. The protrusions 42 are located individually in
positions corresponding to the nodes of the bending vibration mode
of the base 12, and project in the thickness direction of the base.
FIG. 3 shows the result of a simulation of the state of the base 12
vibrating in the bending vibration mode. Since the connector
structure 16 is much weaker than the base 12, it hardly influences
the vibration mode form. As seen from FIG. 3, the bending vibration
mode of the base 12 has two nodes B that are spaced in the
longitudinal direction of the base. If the length of the base 12 is
L, each node B is generated at a position a distance of about L/3
from its corresponding end of the base in the longitudinal
direction.
[0036] Two pairs of protrusions 42 are located individually near
positions corresponding to the nodes B on each side edge portion of
the base 12, and project on the top and bottom sides of the base.
Thus, the protrusions 42 formed on the opposite side edge portions
of the base 12 are eight in total, including four that project on
the top side and another four that project on the bottom side.
[0037] The height of projection of each protrusion 42 is adjusted
to 0.5 to 2.0 mm, for example. It is necessary only that each
protrusion 42 be located within the range of about .+-.L/20 from
the position corresponding to each node B in the longitudinal
direction of the base 12.
[0038] If the HDD 10 with this configuration is inserted into the
card slot 20 in the loading direction A through the inlet 24, as
shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the two guide portions 40 of the HDD
individually engage the guide rails 30 of the cardholder 26 and are
guided into the card slot by the guide rails. If the HDD 10 is
inserted deeper into the card slot 20, the connector 16 on the
distal end of the HDD mates with the connector 28 of the card slot
20. At the same time, the HDD 10 is restricted in movement in its
width and thickness directions by the guide rails 30 of the
cardholder 26. Thus, the HDD 10 is set in a predetermined position
in the card slot 20 and connected electrically to a personal
computer.
[0039] In unloading the HDD 10 from the card slot 20, the eject
button 33 is depressed, whereupon the HDD and the connector 28 are
disconnected, and the HDD is pushed out through the inlet 24. In
this state, the HDD 10 can be taken out of the inlet 24.
[0040] According to the HDD 10 constructed in this manner, the
protrusions 42 are provided on each side edge portions of the base
12. If any vibration or shock applies on the card slot 20 that is
loaded with the HDD 10, therefore, the base 12 comes into contact
with the cardholder 26 of the card slot through the protrusions 42.
Thus, the position of contact of the base 12 with the cardholder 26
is determined by the protrusions 42. The vibration or shock
generated in the card slot 20 is transmitted to the base 12 through
the protrusions 42.
[0041] However, the protrusions 42 are located near the positions
corresponding to the nodes B of the bending vibration mode of the
base 12. If any external force applies on the base 12 through the
protrusions, therefore, the base bending vibration mode shown in
FIG. 3 is never excited. Accordingly, the magnetic disk 17,
magnetic heads 19, etc., on the base 12 can be restrained from
undergoing vibration that is unfavorable for reading and writing of
information. Thus, the HDD can be protected against erroneous
operation and damage, so that its reliability can be improved.
[0042] According to the present embodiment, as described above, the
card-shaped HDD with improved shock and vibration resistance can be
obtained not by increasing the natural frequency of the bending
vibration mode, but by preventing the excitation of the bending
vibration mode itself.
[0043] The following is a description of an HDD according to a
second embodiment of the invention. In the first embodiment, the
top and bottom covers 14 and 15 conceal the entire base 12
including its opposite side edge portions. According to the second
embodiment, however, the opposite side edge portions of the base 12
are exposed without being covered by the top and bottom covers 14
and 15, as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C. Thus, the side edge
portions of the base 12 constitute the guide portions 40, and the
protrusions 42 are also exposed.
[0044] In the first and second embodiments, moreover, the
protrusions 42 are provided on the side edge portions of the base
12. As in a third embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, however,
the protrusions 42 may be provided individually on the respective
side edge portions of the top and bottom covers 14 and 15 that
cover the opposite side edge portions of the base 12 in a manner
such that the respective side edge portions of the covers are
substantially intimately in contact with the side edge portions of
the base.
[0045] The second and third embodiments share other configurations
with the first embodiment. Therefore, like reference numerals are
used to designate like portions of these embodiments, and a
detailed description of those portions is omitted. HDDs according
to the second and third embodiments can work with the same effects
as the HDD according to the first embodiment.
[0046] In the first to third embodiments, the independent
protrusions 42 are located individually near the positions
corresponding to the nodes of the bending vibration mode of the
base 12. As in a fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C,
however, the protrusions 42 may be elongated ridges that extend
individually along the side edges of the base 12 between the
positions corresponding to the two nodes B, on the top and bottom
sides of each side edge portion of the base. More specifically, in
this case, the protrusions 42, four in total, are formed
individually on the top and bottom sides of the opposite side edge
portions of the base 12. Each protrusion 42 has longitudinally
opposite end portions 42a that are situated individually near the
positions corresponding to the nodes B of the bending vibration
mode. The fourth embodiment shares other configurations with the
first embodiment. Therefore, like reference numerals are used to
designate like portions of these embodiments, and a detailed
description of those portions is omitted.
[0047] According to the HDD 10 constructed in this manner, the
position of contact of the base 12 with the cardholder 26 is
practically determined by the opposite end portions 42a of the
protrusions 42. The vibration or shock generated in the card slot
20 is transmitted to the base 12 through the opposite end portions
42a of the protrusions 42. Since the opposite end portions 42a of
the protrusions 42 are located individually near the positions
corresponding to the nodes B of the bending vibration mode of the
base 12, the base bending vibration mode can be prevented from
being excited by any external shock and vibration. Accordingly, the
magnetic disk 17, magnetic heads 19, etc., on the base 12 can be
protected from undergoing vibration that is detrimental to the
reading and writing of information. Thus, the HDD can be protected
against erroneous operation and damage, so that its reliability can
be improved. According to the fourth embodiment, moreover, the
number of protrusions 42 can be reduced to facilitate working, and
differences in height between the protrusions can be
eliminated.
[0048] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its
broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and
representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly,
various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
[0049] Although the protrusions are located on both the top and
bottom sides of each side edge portion of the base or the cover
according to the foregoing embodiments, for example, they may
alternatively be provided on only one side, top or bottom,
depending on restrictions on design. Further, the present invention
is not limited to HDDs and is also applicable to any other
card-shaped electronic apparatuses such as optical disk drives,
modems, etc.
* * * * *